Jewelry clip having removable leaf spring



June 5, 1962 Ha L f I MIE f G- EBERTIN JEWELRY CLIP HAVING REMovABLE LEAF SPRING Filed Nov. 3, 1959 INVENTOR. fa/6H [afer/N United States Patent f() 3,037,367 JEWELRY CLIP HAVING REMOVABLE LEAF SPRING Georges Ebertin, 562 th Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,706 3 Claims. (Cl. 63 20) The presentinvention is directed to hinged clips and more particularly an improved construction adapted for use in jewelry, such as earrings.

In applicants Patent No. 2,722,811, dated November 8, 1955, there is described a clip device for earrings including a spring mounting. This device has proven satisfactory in service, but it is relatively expensive to produce. Also, it is desirable to add other features thereto in order to increase the usefulness thereof and to render the same more convenient to operate and to wear.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a clip device for earrings and the like which will Ihave a safety feature in practically eliminating the danger of loss of earrings while at the same time avoiding any undue pressure on or discomfort to the wearer.

It is :also among the objects of the invention to provide a clip of the character described which is simple in construction, sturdy, and light in weight.

It is further -among the objects of the invention to construct a clip for attachment to an ornament, so that the ornament may be held alternatively on the ear or on the garment of the wearer.

In practicing the invention, there is provided a device which is basically that of applicants prior patent. Ho-wever, in place of a pin transverse of the legs of the body, a bar is attached to the top face of the body, which yhas an integrally formed plate. A flat spring is slipped under the bar `and over the plate, with one end of the spring in contact with the pivoted clip or support member. Another feature of the linvention is the provision of a pin or clamp member pivoted at the base of the U-shaped body, which has a finger grip on the opposite side of the pivot and which is contacted by Ithe other end of the spring, whereby the clamp may be held in inoperative position when the ornament is used as an earring.

A further feature is the provision within the base of the U-shaped body of a pivoted retainer which is adapted to hold onto the ear of the wearer, so that upon an accidental pull on the earring the retainer presses on the ear, so that loss lof the earring is prevented. In normal use there is no undue pressure on the ear or any discomfort caused by this feature.

This invention is more fully described in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is ya top plan view of a clip device made in accordance with the present invention and showing some of the features thereof;

IFIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end view looking lfrom the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified for-m 0f the invention; and

FIG. 7 is `a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 7 7 lof FIG. 6, Iand FIG. 8 is atop view of the spring of FIG. 7.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the U-shaped body has a base 1, the upper surface 2 of the base being concave. An edge 3 is -at the lower face thereof and the upper edge we N constitutes la stop 4. The base is preferably in the form of Ian open loop. A pair of legs 5 an'd 6, 'in parallel relation extend from the loop portion. Across the upper face of the body at an intermediate point of legs 5 and 6 is a bar 7 fixed thereto, as by brazing or welding. Between lbar 7 and base 1 is plate 8 which joins the legs, with the lupper face 9 thereof forming a continuation of the upper face of said legs. The plate is preferably cast or otherwise formed integrally with the body.

At the free end of the legs is a pintle 10 on which is pivoted support 11 to which is secured holder 12 for an ornament. The upper end of support 11 has `a flat surface or shoulder 13. A fiat, rectangular spring 14 has a transverse groove 15 centrally thereof -into which bar 7 is adapted to fit. End 16 of spring 14 rests on shoulder 13, the intermediate portion rests on face 9 of plate 8 Iand the other end 17 is beveled. The spring functions las means for holding support 111 in operative position by pressure on shoulder 13.

Pivot 1S within the loop is mounted between bearings or ears 19. The body or root 20 of the clamp is fixed on pivot 18, and depending from body 20 are a pair of pins 21 constituting the clamp. Above body 20 and fixed thereon is a handle or finger grip 22. When the clamp is not being used it is rotated, as shown at 2f. of FlG. 2, to fit snugly along the lower face of plate 8 where it cannot interfere with the normal use of the ornament as an earring. At the same time grip 22 rests in concave surface 2 and is also out of the w-ay. When the device is to be attached to a garment, grip 22 -is lifted by the finger nail i-nto the position shown in FIG. 2. Then clamp 21 is fitted over the edge of a garment and grip 22 -rnoved to the right, thereby clamping the garment between clamp 21 `and plate 8. The device may also be applied to a garment by piercing it with the pins of clamp 21 land then moving grip 22 to the right to firmly attach the ornament to `the garment.

Another feature of the invention is Afor the purpose of preventing accidental loss of an earring, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Pin 23 is held between ears 24 on base 1. On pin 23 is pivotally mounted retainer 25 having a relatively smooth upper face 2e and a lower, arcuate serrated or toothed face 27. A projection 28 is `adapted tu engage edge 3 to limit the inward movement of retainer 25 so as not to too strongly engage the ear by leaving a space 29. On the opposite side of pin 23 is an extension or nose 30 which is adapted to contact stop -4 to limit the outward movement of retainer 25 and prevent it from assuming ian inoperative position.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a single specific embodiment thereof, the scope is not to be limited to the details shown and described. Various changes may be made therein as, for example the shape of the several elements may be changed, the dimensions may be dilierent, the pivots may be altered in construction, and any desired materialssuitable for the several elements may be employed. These l`and other changes may be made within the spirit of the invention, which is to be broadly construed and tnot to be limited except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A clip for jewelry comprising ya substantially U-shaped body, said body having an upper face and a lower face and 'an arcuate base, the cross-section of said ybase being concave, said coneavity constituting a recess, a pair of substantially parallel legs extending from said base and having free ends, a pintle between and across said free ends, an ornament support having a flat upper face hinged on said pintle, a pivot secured across and within said base substantially parallel to said pintle, a clamp having a flat upper face mounted on said pivot, a plate having a fiat upper face secured between said legs `at an intermediate point between said bar and base, the upper faces of said support, clamp and plate being in the same plane, a bar substantially parallel to said. pintle fixed on said body above said plane and between said pintle and plate, a at straight spring having substantially parallel upper and lower faces and having a transverse groove in the central portion of said upper face of said spring, the lower face of said spring in contact with said at faces, said groove tted under said bar, said spring being biased between said ilat faces and said bar, whereby said spring is urged against said support and clamp to retain the same in their operative and inoperative positions, the distance between the lower edge of said bar and said plane being about equal to the thickness of said spring between said groove and the lower face of said spring.

2. A clip in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said recess is in the upper face of said base and a grip is secured to said clamp and is adapted lto be re- ,ceived in Said recess.

3. A clip in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said grip is arcuate and shaped to t wholly into said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,643 Vidal Feb. 26, 1935 2,510,250 Pereira June 6, 1950 2,557,200 Pujol June 19, 1951 2,722,811 Ebertin Nov. 8, 1955 2,795,833 Gray June 18, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,348 Germany Aug. 14, 1884 14,786 Great Britain of 1913 1,061,945 France Dec. 2, 1953 63,521 France Apr. 13, 1955 (Addition to No. 1,057,348) 

